Behind the Scenes: How We Built Our Developer CLI

Zapier initially developed its Web Builder in 2012 to allow users, regardless of technical skill, to create apps on its platform, but faced challenges with API integrations and scripting, prompting the development of a command-line interface (CLI). The CLI, designed using JavaScript, offers a more robust developer environment by enabling standardization, version control, and team collaboration while supporting over 900 apps on Zapier. The CLI simplifies app creation, management, and deployment through three key packages: a CLI utility for managing Node.js packages, a JSON Schema for app definitions, and a core library for API interactions. It integrates with AWS Lambda for app execution, allowing concurrent versions and providing advanced features like automatic logging and live app development. Launched in March after extensive testing, the CLI complements the existing Web Builder by enhancing the developer experience and eliminating previous workarounds, while still maintaining the Web Builder for those who prefer it.